European Countries Urge Israel to Ensure Safety of Their Citizens on Humanitarian Aid Ships to Gaza
European countries urged the Israeli entity on Wednesday to guarantee the safety of their citizens on board humanitarian aid ships headed to Gaza, after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla earlier in the day. The flotilla, composed of around 50 ships carrying over 500 volunteers from more than 40 countries, aims to defy the naval blockade imposed by the Israeli colonization and deliver food and medical aid to Palestinians. The Portuguese authorities confirmed that three of their citizens, including a member of parliament, had been arrested. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa pledged to provide "all necessary consular support" to ensure their rights and safe return. For its part, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the action "with the greatest firmness," as Italian citizens were also on board. He added that he had authorized an "immediate intervention" by a naval unit in the area for potential rescue operations. France and Spain, on the other hand, expressed their concern, urging the Israeli entity to ensure the safety of their citizens, guarantee their right to consular protection, and allow their rapid return. Late on Wednesday evening, the flotilla denounced the "active aggression" of the occupation army on a digital platform, emphasizing that the Florida ship had been "deliberately rammed at sea," while the Yulara, Meteque, and other ships had been targeted with water cannons. Although all crew members are safe and sound, "these illegal attacks on unarmed humanitarian ships constitute a war crime," the flotilla members stressed.
